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eftain！ we too shall find an hour；' He said； and left the sylvan bower。
XXXVI。
Old Allan followed to the strand Such was the Douglas's command And anxious told； how； on the morn； The stern Sir Roderick deep had sworn； The Fiery Cross should circle o'er Dale； glen； and valley； down and moor Much were the peril to the Graeme From those who to the signal came； Far up the lake 't were safest land； Himself would row him to the strand。 He gave his counsel to the wind； While Malcolm did； unheeding； bind； Round dirk and pouch and broadsword rolled； His ample plaid in tightened fold； And stripped his limbs to such array As best might suit the watery way；
XXXVII。
Then spoke abrupt： ' Farewell to thee； Pattern of old fidelity！' The Minstrel's hand he kindly pressed； 'O； could I point a place of rest！ My sovereign holds in ward my land； My uncle leads my vassal band； To tame his foes； his friends to aid； Poor Malcolm has but heart and blade。 Yet； if there be one faithful Graeme Who loves the chieftain of his name； Not long shall honored Douglas dwell Like hunted stag in mountain cell； Nor； ere yon pride…swollen robber dare； I may not give the rest to air！ Tell Roderick Dhu I owed him naught； Not tile poor service of a boat； To waft me to yon mountain…side。' Then plunged he in the flashing tide。 Bold o'er the flood his head he bore； And stoutly steered him from the shore； And Allan strained his anxious eye； Far mid the lake his form to spy； Darkening across each puny wave； To which the moon her silver gave。 Fast as the cormorant could skim。 The swimmer plied each active limb； Then landing in the moonlight dell； Loud shouted of his weal to tell。 The Minstrel heard the far halloo； And joyful from the shore withdrew。
CANTO THIRD。
The Gathering。
I。
Time rolls his ceaseless course。 The race of yore； Who danced our infancy upon their knee； And told our marvelling boyhood legends store Of their strange ventures happed by land or sea； How are they blotted from the things that be！ How few； all weak and withered of their force； Wait on the verge of dark eternity； Like stranded wrecks； the tide returning hoarse； To sweep them from out sight！ Time rolls his ceaseless course。
Yet live there still who can remember well； How； when a mountain chief his bugle blew； Both field and forest； dingle； cliff； and dell； And solitary heath； the signal knew； And fast the faithful clan around him drew。 What time the warning note was keenly wound； What time aloft their kindred banner flew； While clamorous war…pipes yelled the gathering sound； And while the Fiery Cross glanced like a meteor； round。
II。
The Summer dawn's reflected hue To purple changed Loch Katrine blue； Mildly and soft the western breeze Just kissed the lake； just stirred the trees； And the pleased lake； like maiden coy； Trembled but dimpled not for joy The mountain…shadows on her breast Were neither broken nor at rest； In bright uncertainty they lie； Like future joys to Fancy's eye。 The water…lily to the light Her chalice reared of silver bright； The doe awoke； and to the lawn； Begemmed with dew…drops； led her fawn； The gray mist left the mountain…side； The torrent showed its glistening pride； Invisible in flecked sky The lark sent clown her revelry： The blackbird and the speckled thrush Good…morrow gave from brake and bush； In answer cooed the cushat dove Her notes of peace and rest and love。
III。
No thought of peace； no thought of rest； Assuaged the storm in Roderick's breast。 With sheathed broadsword in his hand； Abrupt he paced the islet strand； And eyed the rising sun； and laid His hand on his impatient blade。 Beneath a rock； his vassals' care Was prompt the ritual to prepare； With deep and deathful meaning fraught； For such Antiquity had taught Was preface meet； ere yet abroad The Cross of Fire should take its road。 The shrinking band stood oft aghast At the impatient glance he cast； Such glance the mountain eagle threw； As； from the cliffs of Benvenue； She spread her dark sails on the wind； And； high in middle heaven reclined； With her broad shadow on the lake； Silenced the warblers of the brake。
IV。
A heap of withered boughs was piled； Of juniper and rowan wild； Mingled with shivers from the oak； Rent by the lightning's recent stroke。 Brian the Hermit by it stood； Barefooted； in his frock and hood。 His grizzled beard and matted hair Obscured a visage of despair； His naked arms and legs； seamed o'er； The scars of frantic penance bore。 That monk； of savage form and face The impending danger of his race Had drawn from deepest solitude Far in Benharrow's bosom rude。 Not his the mien of Christian priest； But Druid's； from the grave released Whose hardened heart and eye might brook On human sacrifice to look； And much； 't was said； of heathen lore Mixed in the charms he muttered o'er。 The hallowed creed gave only worse And deadlier emphasis of curse。 No peasant sought that Hermit's prayer His cave the pilgrim shunned with care； The eager huntsman knew his bound And in mid chase called off his hound；' Or if； in lonely glen or strath； The desert…dweller met his path He prayed； and signed the cross between； While terror took devotion's mien。
V。
Of Brian's birth strange tales were told。 His mother watched a midnight fold； Built deep within a dreary glen； Where scattered lay the bones of men In some forgotten battle slain； And bleached by drifting wind and rain。 It might have tamed a warrior's heart To view such mockery of his art！ The knot…grass fettered there the hand Which once could burst an iron band； Beneath the broad and ample bone； That bucklered heart to fear unknown； A feeble and a timorous guest； The fieldfare framed her lowly nest； There the slow blindworm left his slime On the fleet limbs that mocked at time； And there； too； lay the leader's skull Still wreathed with chaplet； flushed and full； For heath…bell with her purple bloom Supplied the bonnet and the plume。 All night； in this sad glen the maid Sat shrouded in her mantle's shade： She said no shepherd sought her side； No hunter's hand her snood untied。 Yet ne'er again to braid her hair The virgin snood did Alive wear； Gone was her maiden glee and sport； Her maiden girdle all too short； Nor sought she； from that fatal night； Or holy church or blessed rite But locked her secret in her breast； And died in travail； unconfessed。
VI。
Alone； among his young compeers； Was Brian from his infant years； A moody and heart…broken boy； Estranged from sympathy and joy Bearing each taunt which careless tongue On his mysterious lineage flung。 Whole nights he spent by moonlight pale To wood and stream his teal； to wail； Till； frantic； he as truth received What of his birth the crowd believed； And sought； in mist and meteor fire； To meet and know his Phantom Sire！ In vain； to soothe his wayward fate； The cloister oped her pitying gate； In vain the learning of the age Unclasped the sable…lettered page； Even in its treasures he could find Food for the fever of his mind。 Eager he read whatever tells Of magic； cabala； and spells； And every dark pursuit allied To curious and presumptuous pride； Till with fired brain and nerves o'erstrung； And heart with mystic horrors wrung； Desperate he sought Benharrow's den； And hid him from the haunts of men。
VII。
The desert gave him visions wild； Such as might suit the spectre's child。 Where with black cliffs the torrents toil； He watched the wheeling eddies boil； Jill from their foam his dazzled eyes Beheld the River Demon rise： The mountain mist took form and limb Of noontide hag or goblin grim； The midnight wind came wild and dread； Swelled with the voices of the dead； Far on the future battle…heath His eye beheld the ranks of death： Thus the lone Seer； from mankind hurled； Shaped forth a disembodied world。 One lingering sympathy of mind Still bound him to the mortal kind； The only parent he could claim Of ancient Alpine's lineage came。 Late had he heard； in prophet's dream； The fatal Ben…Shie's boding scream； Sounds； too； had come in midnight blast Of charging steeds； careering fast Along Benharrow's shingly side； Where mortal horseman ne'er might ride； The thunderbolt had split the pine； All augured ill to Alpine's line。 He girt his loins； and came to show The signals of impending woe； And now stood prompt to bless or ban； As bade the Chieftain of his clan。
VIII。
'T was all prepared；and from the rock A goat； the patriarch of the flock； Before the kindling pile was laid； And pierced by Roderick's ready blade。 Patient the sickening victim eyed The life…blood ebb in crimson tide Down his clogged beard and shaggy limb； Till darkness glazed his eyeballs dim。 The grisly priest； with murmuring prayer； A slender crosslet framed with care； A cubit's length in measure due； The shaft and limbs were rods of yew； Whose parents in Inch…Cailliach wave Their shadows o'er Clan…Alpine's grave； And； answering Lomond's breezes deep； Soothe many a chieftain's